Rumor Smashed: Apple Won’t Charge for iPad iOS 4 Update

We’re all waiting (im)patiently for our iPads to get a supercharged update to iOS 4, especially now that we’ve been enjoying said update on our iPhones. Apparently, good things will come to those who wait, but despite recent rumors to the contrary, you won’t have to hit your pocket book to get it.AppleInsider is on rumor-smashing patrol Tuesday morning, debunking a recent Stuff.tv report that Apple plans to charge iPad owners for the forthcoming iOS 4 software update, expected sometime this fall. The U.K. magazine cites “top secret plans” yet fails to include a price for the update, although the website suggests it could be around £5.

The magazine’s source apparently claims that Apple’s plans to charge iPad owners for the iOS 4 update are “definite,” but as usual, Cupertino has responded to AppleInsider’s query with the usual comment that they don’t comment on rumors or speculation.

In this case, they don’t need to, since AppleInsider noted back in March that Apple’s own iPad licensing agreements specifically state that “the next major iPad OS software release” will be free for owners of the device -- although that doesn’t mean that Cupertino won’t charge for future updates, including a presumed iOS 5 next year.

"For example, if your iPad originally shipped with iPad 3.x software, Apple would provide you with any iPad OS software updates it might release up to and including the iPad 4.x software release," the licensing agreement reads. "Such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models."AppleInsider also makes the argument that Apple would be cutting off their nose to spite their face by charging iPad users for iOS 4 -- after all, their lucrative iAd platform requires iOS 4, which would significantly limit their target audience if users were forced to pay up to get the update on their iPads.

Historically, Apple has charged for major iPod touch updates because of labyrinthine accounting rules. That changed with this year’s iOS 4 update, which is now free to iPod touch users, casting further doubt on claims that the company would also charge iPad users.